Connor Jessup, 22, is a Canadian actor, best known for his role as Ben Mason on TNT’s Falling Skies. In 2012, Jessup’s performance in Blackbird earned him a “Rising Star” accolade, and he was later named one of Variety’s “Actors to Watch”. (Getty)

Programming Insider

ON THIS DAY
Fox drama “Siders,” starring Jerry O’Connell, debuted in 1995. After three seasons on Fox it moved to the Sci-Fi Channel (now Syfy) from 1998 to 2000…Tara Lipinski, at 14 years and 10 months, became the youngest women’s world figure skating champion in 1997…Robert’s (Brad Garrett) odd habit of tapping his food to his chin before eating it was addressed on CBS sitcom “Everybody Loves Raymond” in 2004…Celebrity Birthdays: “Star Trek’s” William Shatner is 86; talk show host Wolf Blitzer is 69; singerStephanie Mills is 60; actor Matthew Modine (“Birdy”) is 58; ComedianKeegan-Michael Key is 46; Oscar winner Reese Witherspoon is 41; “Fresh off the Boat” star Constance Wu is 35.

-Did You Know?:
In addition to “Star Trek,” William Shatner has appeared regularly in seven different live action television series. And they are, in order of airing… “For the People” (1965), “The Barbary Coast” (1975-76), “T.J. Hooker” (1982-86), “The Practice” (2004), “Boston Legal” (2004-08), “$#*! My Dad Says” (2010-11) and “Better Late Than Never” (2016-present).

RATINGS BOX

Note: The metered market (overnight) data for Tuesday, March 21 was not available at press time. But please visit our website at 11:30 a.m. ET for the fast national results.

Live + Same Day Data
Monday 3/20/17: Click here
Weekly Ratings Scorecard – Week of March 13, 201
What follows are the Live + Same Day data results in primetime for the week of March 13th (with change versus the comparable year-ago week in parentheses):

History is developing a new annual scripted television event, “The Commanders,” dramatizing pivotal moments in U.S. history that defined the men who served as the most powerful person in the nation, the President of the United States. From auspices such as R.J. Cutler (“Nashville,” “The War Room”), Stephen J. Rivele (“Ali,” “Nixon”), Matthew Sand (“Deepwater Horizon”), Cyrus Nowrasteh (“The Path to 911”), Michael Hirst (“Vikings,” “The Tudors”) and Leslie Greif (“Hatfields & McCoys”), “The Commanders” will include limited series ranging from four to ten hours in length that initially would delve into the stories of Bill Clinton, Ronald Reagan, Theodore Roosevelt, James Madison and Thomas Jefferson.

History also has projects in internal development tackling other Presidents including Washington, Lincoln and Eisenhower, among others.

Books optioned as source material include “The Breach: Inside the Impeachment and Trial of William Jefferson Clinton,” by Peter Baker, “Theodore Rex” by Pulitzer Prize-winning author Edmund Morris, “Thomas Jefferson and the Tripoli Pirates” by Brian Kilmeade, and “The Invisible Bridge: The Fall of Nixon and the Rise of Reagan” by Rick Perlstein.

Lifetime to Launch Reality Series ‘This Time Next Year’ and ‘Working Moms’
Lifetime has announced two new upcoming reality series. The first, “This Time Next Year,” is hosted by Cat Deeley and is based on the hit UK format by Twofour. It follows the emotional journeys of ordinary people as they embark on extraordinary missions to change their lives, over the course of one year. Each transformation will be revealed on screen in a matter of moments, as participants enter one door and emerge from another in an instantaneous, ‘time-travel’ style format, revealing a brand new version of themselves. From reconstructive surgeries to heartwarming reunions, infertility to weight loss, no hurdle is too big for the brave individuals who have chosen to take control of their lives.

The second is tentatively called “Working Moms” and it features former model and television personality Yolanda Hadid (“Real Housewives of Beverly Hills”), who knows what it takes to be a big name in the modeling business as the mother agent to fashion’s “IT” girls Gigi and Bella, and model son Anwar. Yolanda will coach aspiring teen models to succeed on and off the catwalk in an intensive eight-week training program, focused on the physical, mental and emotional wellness that it takes to build a sustainable brand. With a $5,000 weekly prize on the line to put towards their future careers, only one girl will be left standing to win a management contract with Yolanda’s company and the potential opportunity to be represented by IMG Models in New York.

SERIES RENEWALS AND CANCELLATIONS“Biography” to Return on A&E
Anthology “Biography” is returning to A&E Networks after five years as a re-imagined global, linear and digital non-fiction franchise. Focusing on meaningful events on personalities and their impact on our culture, “Biography” will begin to roll out on A&E, History and Lifetime domestically and internationally across all platforms beginning this spring.

Biography.com and the Biography social platforms will also re-launch with a new look and feel, and fresh, relevant content to reflect the brand’s up-close-and-personal approach and promise: “the untold, told.” Building on its roots as a trusted source of information, Biography.com will be re-imagined to help audiences rethink their perspectives on notable people and events, focusing on cultural legacy and relevance.

Initial linear projects under the “Biography” brand will include “The Notorious Life of Biggie Smalls,” “The End of America: Putin’s Master Plan,” “Who Killed Tupac,””Gotti & Son” (working title), “David Koresh and the Siege of Waco,” and hours focused on Elizabeth Smart and Mike Tyson.

NOTES IF INTEREST

MGM Television to Develop Shows for Snapchat
MGM Television has announced a deal with Snap. Inc to develop and produce shows for Snapchat’s Discover platform. This marks Snap’s first deal with a major entertainment studio, and adds to the deals Snap already has in place with a number of leading TV networks to develop and produce premium original content for its platform. Shot vertically for mobile, each show – including documentaries, reality, scripted and non-scripted comedies and dramas — will tell a complete narrative in four to five minutes.

In recent months, Snap has announced deals with NBC, ESPN, the NFL, Turner, ABC, the BBC and A+E Networks and Discovery Networks, which are either already producing or developing shows for Snapchat.

Casting News
Oscar winner Penelope Cruz (“Vicky Cristina Barcelona”) has been cast to play Donatella Versace, the sister of murdered fashion designer Gianni Versace, in “Versace: American Crime Story” on FX. “Versace: American Crime Story” is the third installment of the scripted anthology series from Ryan Murphy, Nina Jacobson and Brad Simpson. Production of “Versace: American Crime Story” is scheduled to begin in April and air in 2018.

Colin Farrell will play Oliver North in an upcoming Amazon miniseries about the Iran-Contra scandal. Farrell’s“The Lobster” director Yorgos Lanthimos will direct the untitled limited series, which is currently in development.

Ashley Judd has joined the cast of EPIX spy drama “Berlin Station” as BB Yates, Berlin’s disarming new Chief of Station, nicknamed “The Station Whisperer” for her itinerant work in the field shoring up CIA stations in moral or corporate disrepair. Part company loyalist and part maverick, BB toes a dangerous line between serving those above her and empowering those below her. The series, from Paramount Television and Anonymous Content, will begin production in Berlin on March 31st with an eye towards a 2017 return.

INSTANT REPLAYS

“Wheel of Fortune” Contestant Guesses Interesting Letter in Attempt to Complete Puzzle
From Clippit: On yesterday’s episode of syndicated “Wheel of Fortune” it was contestant Kevin’s turn with one letter remaining in the puzzle that’s the name of a title. Unfortunately, Kevin guessed incorrectly. For a look at the outcome, click here

MARK YOUR CALENDARS

“Stayin’ Alive: A Grammy Salute to the Music of the Bee Gees” will air on CBS on Sunday, April 16 from 8-10 p.m. ET. Featured will be music stars Andra Day, Celine Dion, DNCE, Nick Jonas, Tori Kelly, Little Big Town, Demi Lovato, Katharine McPhee, Panic! at the Disco, Pentatonix, Ed Sheeran, Keith Urban, Kelsea Ballerini & Thomas Rhett, Jason Derulo & Tavares, John Legend & Stevie Wonder and Barry Gibb as they celebrate the Bee Gees’ remarkable music catalog

The sixth season of “Yukon Men” will open on Discovery on Friday, April 21stat 9 p.m. ET. The logline: Deep in the remote interior of Alaska, 130 miles from the nearest city stands Tanana, a town on the brink of civilization. Since its founding, the only way in or out was by boat or plane, but all of that is about to change. After years of isolation, a controversial new road connects the village to Fairbanks for the first time and villagers must face their greatest threat yet, the outside world.

ON THE AIR TONIGHT

Fox launches limited drama “Shots Fired” into the return of “Empire.”“Are You the One: All Star Challenge” debuts on MTV. Comedy Central premieres“The Comedy Jam.” For the schedule listings for Wednesday, March 22, clickhere

Is: a) Paul Anka. Lorelai (Lauren Graham) adopted four-legged Paul Anka in season six to help fill the Rory-sized void in her life (mother and daughter were going through a bit of a rough patch at the time). He remained by Lorelai’s side through the show’s seventh and final season, and was also back for the recent revival on Netflix.